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Air Force hockey team adds Joe Doyle as coaching assistant

Former Air Force player and assistant coach Joe Doyle is returning to the academy as its newest assistant, Falcons coach Frank Serratore announced Monday.

The 1989 graduate served as an assistant from 1994-98 and from 2002-06 while on active duty. The Air Force retiree returns to his alma mater after serving as regional director of the American Development Model the past four years for Colorado Springs-based USA Hockey.

Doyle will lead recruiting and work with the Falcons defensemen. He replaces Mike Corbett, who left to take over the Alabama-Huntsville program in July.

"I am extremely excited to return to the Air Force Academy, work with the amazing student-athletes and support the mission of producing tremendous Air Force officers," Doyle said. "I need to thank the leadership and hockey department at USA Hockey for their support and confidence over the last four years. The experiences and opportunities they have afforded me have made this college hockey opportunity a reality."

Doyle is a member of AFA's Hockey Wall of Fame. The two-time team most valuable player was in the first class to post four consecutive winning seasons. He recorded 126 points (57 goals) in 110 games, good for No. 23 all-time in points and 15th in goals.

"We are excited to have Joe back in the fold," Serratore said. "He is one of our program's all-time greats and did a terrific job for us early in his coaching career. The experience he gained with USA Hockey will enable him to bring even more to the table this time around."

Doyle serves as an assistant under his former coach, program great Chuck Delich, and then on Serratore's staff from 1997-98.

The 2003 Boston College High School Hall of Fame inductee and his wife, Holly, have four children: Brendan, Andrew, Luke and Emma.